Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. LA BURT.

CAR COUPLING.

No. 595,067. Patented Dec. 7,1897.

' Snvntoz (1613p war5 Wilnuaeo llrrnn STATES PATnN'r OFFICE.

JOHN LA BURT, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE NEW YORK COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEXV YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,067, dated December 7, 1897.

Application filed March 5, 1897.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN LA BURT, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Ooupli11gs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car-couplings of the swinging-knuckle type; and the object is to provide a coupling of this character which embodies simplicity of construction and in which the knuckles upon being released will automatically swing open by gravity; and the invention is particularly an improvement on the coupling for which a patent was granted to me under the date of April 17, 1891, No. 518,256.

I will describe a car-coupling embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car-coupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the knuckle removed. Fig. 4c is a section showing a ball drawing upon which the knuckle opens by gravity. Fig. 5 is a section at right angles to Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the knuckle-locking latch.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the coupling-head, having the usual horn 2 at one side and the lugs 3 at the opposite side, through which the pin 4 for the swinging knuckle 5 extends. The knuckle 5 has a shank portion 6 at substantially right angles to its locking portion and adapted to pass into the recess '7, formed in the front of the coupling-head. On the upper lug 3 and near its inner edge is provided a bal1-bearing S, which engages in an arc-shaped groove 9, formed in the under surface of the block 10 on the knuckle and through which the pin 4 passes. The knuckle is provided with a central boss 11, through which the pin passes, and this boss is somewhat shorter than the distance between the lugs 3, so that the knuckle may have a vertical motion relatively to the coupling-head. By this construction it is obvious that when the knuckle is released in the act of coupling it will fall Serial No. 625,932. (No model.)

by gravity, and as the groove 9 gradually increases in depth from its rear end the knuckle in falling will be turned to an open position.

I will now describe my improved knucklelocking means, first stating, however, that a main object in the construction of the locking-latch is to provide means whereby the lifting-ball may be easily removed and replaced should it be accidentally broken.

The locking-latch 12 is mounted to swing on a lug 13, extended from the inner vertical wall of the recess 7, and, preferably, the opening in the latch through which the lug passes will be elongated lengthwise of the latch, so as to relieve the lug and latch of undue strain. The latch is upwardly curved on its under side and is provided at its free end with a locking-shoulder 11 to engage against the shank of the knuckle to hold it closed. I11 its body portion the latch is provided with a chamber 15, having a slot opening 16 through the top of the latch and an opening 17 at the end through the bottom of the latch. The slot-opening 16 is somewhat narrower than the width of chamber 15, thus providing shoulders 18, with which the head 19 of the lifting-bolt 20 engages. The opening 17 has a width slightly greater than that of the head 19, and the bolt 20 passes loosely through an opening 21 in the top wall of the couplinghead, and its upper end is designed to be attached to a lifting-chain or similar device. By this construction it will be seen that a lifting'bolt may be easily inserted or removed through the opening 17 by tilting it, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. A car-coupling comprising a head, a swinging knuckle therein, a locking-latch pivoted in the head having a chamber communicating with a restricted upper and outward opening, and a downward outward opening at one end, and a lifting-bolt having a head portion to move in said chamber, and to 95 engage against the shoulders formed by the restricted opening substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a coupling-head,

a swinging knuckle, and a lifting-bolt, of a Signed at New York, in the county of New locking-latch pivoted in the head, and hav- York and State of New York, this 8th day of ing a longitudinally-disposed chamber, pro- October, A. D. 1896.

vided with a restricted opening through the JOHN LA BURT. 5 top of the latch, and an opening at one end WVitnesses:

through the bottom of the latch substantially JOHN E. PALMER,

as specified. W. L. SAWYER. 

